Histophysiology study of interleukin-4 in thyroid cancer patients

Introduction.Interleukins have promising prospects in the clinical treatment of cancer. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is an an­ti-inflammatory cytokine with an immunosuppressive effect on antitumor activity by immune cells, but the mechanical action of IL-4 in thyroid cancer is unknown. Aim: to investigate the effect of IL-4 expression in thyroid cancer patients. Furthermore, to clarify the association between obesity and thyroid cancer. Material and methods.The present study was conducted on 115 subjects with thyroid nodules (36 with thyroid cancer and 79 with benign lesions) in Basrah, Iraq, from November 2019 to April 2022. To conduct a histophysiology study of IL-4. Results.There was a significant difference in serum IL-4 between the thyroid cancer and control subjects. A higher level of serum IL-4 was observed in the Hashimoto thyroiditis group. There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between thyroid cancer and control subjects. The expression of tissue IL-4 in thyroid cancer patients was strong in 8 (22.22%) slides, moderate in 7 slides (19.44%), weak in 8 slides (22.22%), and negative in 13 slides (36.11%), while in the control group, it was strong in 7 (30.44%) slides, moderate in 8 slides (34.79%), weak in 5 slides (21.74%) and neg­ative in 3 slides (13.03%). Conclusions.These findings indicate that serum levels of IL-4 may help diagnose thyroid cancer and identify patients with active disease who deserve closer medical attention. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-4 was systematic and not localized in thyroid cancer tissues. Obesity was not associated with a prevalence of thyroid cancer

A study of combined oral anti-diabetic drugs during Ramadan

Background. The safety and efficacy of combination tablets of metformin plus sulfonylurea or plus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have not been studied previously. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of Gliconorm versus Sitavia plus among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who fast Ramadan. Methods. This was an open-label study conducted from 1 May 2018 till 1 July 2018. People with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were drug-naïve or on metformin only, with HbA1c < 10 % were included. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group was given Gliconorm (glibenclamide 5 mg + metformin 1000 mg), while the second group was given Sitavia plus (sitagliptin 50 mg + metformin 1000 mg) imme-diately after Iftar. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured before and after Ramadan. Several home recordings of blood glucose were collected. In addition, patients were asked to report any hypoglycemic or severe hyperglycemic episodes. Results. A total of 34 participants (18 women) (19 in the first group and 15 in the second group) were involved the study. The mean age was 49.6 ± 9.3 years. HbA1c reduced from 8.7 % (72 mmol/mol) to 7.6 % (60 mmol/mol) and from 8.7% (72 mmol/mol) to 7.7 % (61 mmol/mol) in the first and second group, respectively (p < 0.0001). Only one patient in the first group experienced one episode of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Conclusion. Both medications seem to be safe and effective during Ramadan fasting.

Histophysiology study of interleukin-4 in thyroid cancer patients

Introduction.Interleukins have promising prospects in the clinical treatment of cancer. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is an an­ti-inflammatory cytokine with an immunosuppressive effect on antitumor activity by immune cells, but the mechanical action of IL-4 in thyroid cancer is unknown. Aim: to investigate the effect of IL-4 expression in thyroid cancer patients. Furthermore, to clarify the association between obesity and thyroid cancer. Material and methods.The present study was conducted on 115 subjects with thyroid nodules (36 with thyroid cancer and 79 with benign lesions) in Basrah, Iraq, from November 2019 to April 2022. To conduct a histophysiology study of IL-4. Results.There was a significant difference in serum IL-4 between the thyroid cancer and control subjects. A higher level of serum IL-4 was observed in the Hashimoto thyroiditis group. There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between thyroid cancer and control subjects. The expression of tissue IL-4 in thyroid cancer patients was strong in 8 (22.22%) slides, moderate in 7 slides (19.44%), weak in 8 slides (22.22%), and negative in 13 slides (36.11%), while in the control group, it was strong in 7 (30.44%) slides, moderate in 8 slides (34.79%), weak in 5 slides (21.74%) and neg­ative in 3 slides (13.03%). Conclusions.These findings indicate that serum levels of IL-4 may help diagnose thyroid cancer and identify patients with active disease who deserve closer medical attention. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-4 was systematic and not localized in thyroid cancer tissues. Obesity was not associated with a prevalence of thyroid cancer

Pattern-Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials Tests in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with and without Diabetic Retinopathy

Background. Currently, diabetic retinopathy (DR) has a wide recognition as a neurovascular rather than a microvascular diabetic complication with an increasing need for enhanced detection approaches. Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEPs) test, as an objective electrophysiological measure of the optic nerve and retinal function, can be of great value in the detection of diabetic retinal changes. Objectives. The use of two sizes of checkerboard PRVEPs testing to detect any neurological changes in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without a clinically detected DR. Also, to compare the results according to the candidate age, duration, and glycemic status of T2DM. Methods. This study included 50 candidates as group A with T2DM and did not have a clinically detected DR and 50 candidates as group B with T2DM and had a clinically detected early DR and 50 candidates as controls who were neither diabetic nor had any other medical or ophthalmic condition that might affect PRVEPs test results. The PRVEPs were recorded in the consultant unit of ophthalmology in Almawani Teaching Hospital. Monocular PRVEPs testing of both eyes was done by using large (60 min) and small (15 min) checks to measure N75 latency and P100 latency and amplitude. Results. There was a statistically significant P100 latency delay and P100 amplitude reduction in both groups A and B in comparison with the controls. The difference between groups A and B was also significant. In both test results of groups A and B, the proportions of abnormal P100 latency were higher than those of P100 amplitude with a higher abnormal proportions in 15 min test. Conclusions. The PRVEP test detected neurological changes, mainly as conductive alterations affecting mostly the foveal region prior to any overt DR clinical changes, and these alterations were heightened by the presence of DR clinical changes